When you enter a new market, every move hinges on one thing: whether buyers trust you enough to pay attention.

In this episode of Straight to Voicemail, Rachel Elsts Downey calls Christie Horsman, Head of Marketing at UpCodes, to dig into why customer trust has to be the center of any scaling strategy. Christie shares how she approaches new markets by studying the category, understanding how buyers evaluate options, and mapping where her product fits. She explains how trust is built through people, not brands, and why thought leadership, influencer partnerships, and customer proof matter more than ever in AI driven search.

You’ll learn:

• How to build trust before you build pipeline
• How to research and position yourself in a new category
• How to use voices, not brands, to shape buyer perception

Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Why we wanted to hear from Christie
(00:09) Why trust decides whether your strategy works
(00:20) Why Christie understands how to scale in new markets
(01:20) The different ways to approach new markets
(01:40) How to position against incumbents
(02:16) Why trust matters more than paid ads
(03:20) How influencers and ambassadors build credibility
(04:00) Why thought leadership drives trust in AI search
(06:20) Scaling through reviews and lighthouse customers
(07:40) How trust fuels your funnel

Straight to Voicemail is for CMOs, CEOs, and Heads of Marketing in B2B tech who want insights from the people who’ve been there. Each episode centers on one big question answered like a voicemail you’ll want to play again.

Don’t miss this conversation! Follow Straight to Voicemail and explore Genius Cuts for more B2B content strategy insights.

These days, AI-generated content is everywhere: it's in your feed, ads, and even in real life. Businesses can now scale and create faster than ever, but does this content actually connect with audiences? At its core, great content is personal. No matter how much AI helps us scale, we can’t lose sight of the fact that humans are essential to creating content that resonates.

In this episode of Straight to Voicemail, Rachel Elsts Downey sits down with Jimmy Girot, Director of Marketing at Intterra. Jimmy shares his insights on why content marketing is more important than ever, even as AI continues to shape the landscape. He discusses how AI can amplify human-driven content by optimizing your operations, but emphasizes that the human touch, authenticity, and emotional connection must remain at the heart of every marketing strategy.

You’ll learn:

• Why human-driven content still matters in an AI-driven world
• How AI can support content creation without replacing human connection
• The importance of starting small and being intentional with content

Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Why we wanted to hear from Jimmy
(00:10) The role of content in today’s marketing strategy
(01:00) Why content marketing is essential, even in the age of AI
(02:00) How to keep content human while using AI
(03:00) The power of starting small with content marketing
(03:40) Scaling content without losing authenticity

Straight to Voicemail is for CMOs, CEOs, and Heads of Marketing in B2B tech who want insights from the people who’ve been there. Each episode centers on one big question answered like a voicemail you’ll want to play again.

Don’t miss this conversation! Follow Straight to Voicemail and explore Genius Cuts for more B2B content strategy insights.

As automation grows, the brands that stand out will be the ones whose content still feels written by, and for, people.

In this episode of Straight to Voicemail, Rachel Elsts Downey sits down with Corey Perlman, Social and Digital Marketing Speaker at Impact Social. Corey shares his approach to leveraging AI without losing authenticity in content. He talks about how AI can support content creation while emphasizing the importance of human input to maintain quality, relatability, and trust with your audience.

You’ll learn:

• How to use AI effectively without sacrificing authenticity
• Why human editing is essential for quality control
• How to create content that builds trust and connects

Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Why we wanted to hear from Corey
(00:15) Why AI can't replace human touch in content creation
(01:05) Meet Corey Perlman from Impact Social
(01:35) Using AI as a tool, not a replacement
(02:10) The importance of human editing in AI content
(02:40) Creating content that resonates and builds trust
(03:10) Practical tips for using AI in social media
(03:35) How AI can help you scale your content

Straight to Voicemail is for CMOs, CEOs, and Heads of Marketing in B2B tech who want insights from the people who’ve been there. Each episode centers on one big question answered like a voicemail you’ll want to play again.

Don’t miss this conversation! Follow Straight to Voicemail and explore Genius Cuts for more B2B content strategy insights.